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Lady Anne Addison is finally home in Kent after her recent adventures in Yorkshire and Cornwall. While at the gypsy camp near her home, Anne sees a man she recognizes as her erstwhile suitor, the gorgeous Marquess of Darkefell. What is he doing sneaking around her property? In Cornwall, she asked for time to consider his proposal, after which they quarreled, yet again. She writes a scathing letter to him and his family, asking the meaning of his surreptitious visit to her home, which brings him to Kent. It was not him skulking around her property, he vows.

Despite Darkefell’s arrival, Anne is preoccupied with the troubles that plague her family and loved ones. Is it the old gypsy woman’s curse that is making her friends ill, or something far more sinister? Her fate and that of the marquess’s family are now intertwined, as an enemy from the Darkefell estate in Yorkshire takes drastic action that threatens Anne’s beloved brother. One by one, Anne and Darkefell unravel the troubling mysteries, and then travel back to Yorkshire, where their love story began, to finally solve the murder that threatens the very heart of his family.

As they work together, Anne cannot ignore the growing attraction between herself and the marquess. But do they have a love strong enough to carry them beyond their plight and through a lifetime together?

Includes a sneak peek of the first book in Victoria Hamilton's Vintage Kitchen cozy mystery series: A DEADLY GRIND.

258 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 22, 2019

253 people are currently reading
293 people want to read

About the author

Donna Lea Simpson

45 books113 followers
Donna Lea Simpson is a nationally bestselling romance and mystery novelist with over twenty titles published in the last ten years. An early love for the novels of Jane Austen and Agatha Christie was a portent of things to come; Donna believes that a dash of mystery adds piquancy to a romantic tale, and a hint of romance adds humanity to a mystery story. Besides writing romance and mystery novels and reading the same, Donna has a long list of passions: cats and tea, cooking and vintage cookware, cross-stitching and watercolor painting among them. Karaoke offers her the chance to warble Dionne Warwick tunes, and nature is a constant source of comfort and inspiration. A long walk is her favorite exercise, and a fruity merlot is her drink of choice when the tea is all gone. Donna lives in Canada.
The best writing advice, Donna believes, comes from the letters of Jane Austen. The author wrote, in an October 26th, 1813 letter to her sister, Cassandra, “I am not at all in a humor for writing; I must write on till I am.”

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Profile Image for Carole (Carole's Random Life).
1,943 reviews610 followers
March 23, 2020
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.

I really enjoyed this final chapter in the Lady Anne Addison Mysteries series. I would recommend reading this series in order since the events of the previous books do play a part in this story. I was pretty excited to see how things would work out for both Lady Anne and Darkefell and was eager to see them solve another mystery. I am so glad that I decided to give this series a try.

Lady Anne has returned home to Kent after her previous adventures. There is a gypsy camp on her family's land and Lady Anne spies a man that looks just like Darkefell while visiting. She decides to send a letter to Darkefell and his family about what she has seen. Meanwhile, there are a few problems involving that she has to start dealing with including a mysterious illness and a gypsy curse.

I enjoyed seeing Lady Anne and Darkefell work together once again. They do sometimes disagree but I have appreciated watching them work things out. They have wonderful chemistry and really do make a great pair. I liked the fact that they were able to work through some of the obstacles to a relationship that they have had over the course of this series.

Danielle Cohen did a fantastic job with this book as she has with the entire series. I thought that she added a lot of excitement and emotion to the story through her narration I thought that she handled all of the different character voices very well. She has a very pleasant voice that I found easy to listen to for hours at a time. I believe that her narration added to my overall enjoyment of this story.

I would recommend this series to others. I had a great time with all three books in this series. I enjoyed the mysteries in each book and the development of the character relationships throughout the course of the series. I was really satisfied with how everything was resolved in this book. I would definitely read more of this author's work in the future.

I received a review copy of this audiobook from the narrator.

Initial Thoughts
I enjoyed this book. It tied up a lot of loose ends and I was happy about the way that things worked out. The mystery at the start of the book is solved earlier than I expected but Darkefell and Anne had a lot of things to work out and there were some pieces of the mystery from the first book that still needed to fall into place. I thought that the narrator did a wonderful job with the series.
19 reviews
July 10, 2019
Disappointed

I enjoyed the concept of the book series but I was very disappointed in the actual books. First off, can we forego having the same ending in two of the books? Also, the main character, Anne, doesn’t want the man to tell her what to do but she doesn’t think twice about yelling at him like a shrew, controlling his actions, or bossing him around by the nose. Won’t be purchasing book 4 if one comes out. Yep, too much analyzing what she will miss out on if she marries.
Profile Image for eyes.2c.
3,118 reviews110 followers
April 27, 2019
A new mystery with links to the past!

On her return to Kent from her time in Yorkshire and Cornwall, Anne is dismayed to catch a glimpse of her determined suitor, Anthony, the Marquess of Darkefell, in a gypsy camp on her family property.
Suitably cross Anne pens a letter to the Marquess and his family. A letter that brings them all to Kent.
Again mysteries beget mysteries and death stalks them all. Gypsy curses, stolen property and mob mentalities play a part.
Anne and Darkefell come to the heart of the past as it intrudes on the present to a shocking conclusion.
Anne continues to struggle with her anxities about marriage and the loss of independence.
The outcome is littered with misunderstandings and dark deeds and a return to the original scene of troubles--Yorkshire!
A fitting, yet complex closure!
This tale was originally published by Donna Lea Simpson. It has been updated and republished under Simpson's pseudonym, Victoria Hamilton.

A Beyond the Page Publications ARC via NetGalley
485 reviews1 follower
June 27, 2019
Book 3

Not as good as the previous two in this series. I came to admire the intelligent and independent Lady Anne in the first book. After reading the second book I was on the fence about her. After the third book I honestly detest her. She turned into an All About Me, I'm always right, Shrew. Why any man would desire THAT I can't imagine
Profile Image for Karen Darling.
3,404 reviews24 followers
December 6, 2022
Too many things happening in this book. The heroine's mother ran away. The heroine's brother is simple. Someone is trying to kill the heroine. The heroine is mean to the hero. Folks are getting sick, and nobody knows why. The hero's twin brother is in hiding. The heroine's brother is kidnapped. The heroine's cousin rug rats are causing havoc in the household. The Gypsies are being spat on.... I made it to chapter 19.
Profile Image for Kristen.
2,608 reviews89 followers
May 22, 2021
I'm so torn on how to review this. There is much about this series I enjoy, but there are also things that just don't work for me. Ultimately, I enjoy the story and - mostly - the characters, so it's a 3-star for me.

I love that Anne is a strong female character. She is capable and independent and takes care of those in her world and under her protection. That is laudable and makes me like her. And then, she goes into these fits of melodrama and angst about Tony being, well, a man! Men do stupid stuff! They fight other men, they act like Neanderthals when women test their patience. It's just what they do. I feel like Anne is smart enough to see that these are anomalies and not Tony's real personality. So her hissy fits where she shuts him out get really old really fast for me.

Overall, I feel like this book, and frankly the other two I've read are about 150 pages too long. They could be edited down to take out some of the wailing and knashing of teeth emotionally speaking that both Anne and Tony go through . . . and through . . . and through while trying to accept they love each other and should just get together.

If this had been a shorter book with less of that emotional upheaval it would have been 4-stars for me. That said, I did enjoy it overall, so 3 stars it is.
Profile Image for Andrée-ann.
154 reviews2 followers
June 6, 2020
The last book of a wonderful series.

There is a some change in the configuration of the story. We got more then one mystery to witness and we have more of characters growth to go through.

Lady Anne and Lord Darkfell will give use some fireworks. It is a well build book with a good story pace. I just wish to have a little more detail at the end... But who has never said they wished their loved book had one more chapter?

Lady Anne has a lot to think about and to figure out about herself and about her future. It's not an easy task to be sure about one futur happiness. Many will be able to relate to her inside monologue.

I would said, go for it. Take this last volume of the series and enjoy. You will love it as the first ones!
Profile Image for Sarah.
554 reviews35 followers
May 21, 2019
After a visit to the Darkefell estate to see Lydia and a brief stay in Cornwall to see Pamela, Lady Anne has travelled back to her family home to see her father and brother and to take time and space to think about a potential future with Lord Darkefell. But when she spots a man in the distance she believes it to be Tony Darkefell himself, that he disregarded her wishes and has followed after her again. But when she calls his name, he turns and runs. Angry and confused, she writes lettr to him and his family members demanding to know what is going on.

I really liked this third installment in the series, but it was less of a mystery than the other two in the series. You know who it is that she believed to be Tony and you know who is responsible for all the weird and aggressive goings on in the areas nearby Anne's home. I would have liked it to be a bit more of a mystery, but everything else about this book was so good that it more than made up for it. For example, we finally get to know what the vedict is between Lady Anne and Tony and I'd say that's worth missing out on a bit of mystery since the entire series has been leading up to an answer between them.

I loved each book and this was the perfect end to the series. I wish there were more books in the series though so that I could keep on reading but it was such a perfect ending that I'm okay with it! Luckily she has started a new series earlier this year and so I can keep reading with The Gentlewoman's Guide to Murder.

I would recommend this book/series to any fans of historical fiction, historical mystery, or historical romance.
Profile Image for Susan.
7,283 reviews69 followers
April 26, 2019
Lady Anne has arrived back home to Kent, to Harecross Hall and her father. But while visiting the nearby gypsy camp she belives she has seen Lord Darkefell. Annoyed that he has appeared without contacting her she writes letters to Yorkshire demanding to know what is happening. But what of the other stranger in the area and the mysterious illness affecting the locals. Matters between the locals and the gypsies constantly get worse.
With everying that is happening can Darkefell and Anne ever reach an undertanding.
An enjoyable well-written story with its mixture of adventure, mystery and romance.
A NetGalley Book
Profile Image for Sherry Jones.
10 reviews1 follower
June 21, 2019
Too much of a good thing maybe?

Lady Anne’s internal dilemma was dragged out a little too much. And then there were conflicts in the story that seemed unnecessary to the plot. I read all three books in three days because I truly enjoyed the first in the series and it ended with such a cliffhanger, but this one just seemed less thought out and a bit more random. A bit like a 3 hour movie that would have been better as a one hour TV show.
Profile Image for Sheila.
1,052 reviews3 followers
May 10, 2019
A decent gothic mystery, third in the series. i like Anne, a strong heroine. This book resolves most of the plot questions left open in the first two books. A quick, entertainment read, but it could use a bit of editing, as it brings in unnecessary new matters even at the end of the book.
Profile Image for Sarah.
134 reviews2 followers
June 4, 2020
Of the three Lady Anne mysteries this was my least favorite. It was a good read, but it felt a little forced. The two main characters were a bit overdrawn, and the story seemed to be a bounce around unevenly.
1,076 reviews36 followers
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January 7, 2021
Author Victoria Hamilton and narrator Danielle Cohen have done it again. First a werewolf, then a ghost, now gypsies. Lady Anne Addison has a knack for not only falling into mysteries but very interesting mysteries. Curse of the Gypsy is another exciting sweet, sexy and truly satisfying visit with Lady Anne and Lord Darkefell. I hope this series goes on forever and that
Danielle Cohen continues to narrate these delightful stories.

Historical novels in general can be a lot of fun. The characters have many of the emotions and challenges we have today – independence, self-determination, the freedom to love whoever they please – but they are restricted by the rules and restraints of their era. They want more than society says they are supposed to have. When these historicals are in the hands of an expert writer like Hamilton, they are extra special.

Lady Anne is back home in Kent after her recent dangerous adventures with the werewolf and the ghost, but don’t think she is suddenly going to be the peaceful, quiet, non-adventurous Lady she’s supposed to be. She sees someone that looks just like Darkefell at the gypsy camp near her family’s property. He’s supposed to be giving her time to think about their relationship, so she is of course outraged and writes to him – and his family – very clearly telling him what she thinks. He denies it was him and travels to Kent to find out what is going on, with his mother not far behind.

And so begins another marvelous mystery full of danger, intrigue and that simmering attraction between Lady Anne and Darkefell. As always, the characters are many layered and well developed, the plot is smooth and moves quickly and the supporting cast of characters charming or menacing in turn. Lady Anne is hard-headed and stubborn, Darkefell is impulsive and there isn’t much pause between his thoughts and his words. Their relationship is both sweet and exasperating.

Curse of the Gypsy is the third book in the Lady Anne Addison Mysteries series. While they work just fine standalone you should read from the beginning so you don’t miss a word, a glance, a minute of how their relationship began. I have listened to audiobooks of the three books and narrator Danielle Cohen is perfect, absolutely perfect. I learned while listening to Curse of the Gypsy that another book has been released on audiobook. Yippee! I love this series and recommend it without hesitation. I won a copy of this audiobook from the author but was not required to provide a review. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Lauralee.
Author 2 books27 followers
September 28, 2021
When Lady Anne Addison returns to her home in Kent, she finds her suitor is hanging out with the gypsies nearby. She sends an angry letter to his family expressing her displeasure, only for her suitor to deny he was anywhere near the gypsies’ camp. She also learns that there is a gyspy that has cursed her friends. Are her friends’ illnesses the result of the curse or is there something more sinister involved?

Lady Anne Addison was a very likable heroine in the first book of the series. However, in this novel, I found her to be insufferable. I did not like how she treated the Marquess of Darkefell. Her attempts at trying to be an independent woman seemed completely silly. She quickly became an insipid and selfish character. Thus, her actions largely made a short read a slog for me, and I kept putting the story down wishing to not have the trouble to put up with the vapid heroine.

Overall, the third installment tied up loose ends from the first novel. This novel had a simple plot with not as much mystery as the previous novels. The scenes were very repetitive, especially the interactions between Lady Anne Addison and the Marquess of Darkefell that made the novel seem very drawn out. I was quite surprised that there is a fourth novel in this series. I was surprised because I thought Curse of the Gyspy tied everything together neatly, so that it seems more fitting to be a trilogy. While I was left wanting more from this novel, it still left me slightly more curious to read the fourth book. Still, the series as a whole is an excellent addition to those that love a cozy mystery. I recommend this for fans of Anna Lee Huber, Elizabeth Bailey, and Andrea Penrose.
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
Profile Image for Sarah.
554 reviews35 followers
May 21, 2019
After a visit to the Darkefell estate to see Lydia and a brief stay in Cornwall to see Pamela, Lady Anne has travelled back to her family home to see her father and brother and to take time and space to think about a potential future with Lord Darkefell. But when she spots a man in the distance she believes it to be Tony Darkefell himself, that he disregarded her wishes and has followed after her again. But when she calls his name, he turns and runs. Angry and confused, she writes lettr to him and his family members demanding to know what is going on.

I really liked this third installment in the series, but it was less of a mystery than the other two in the series. You know who it is that she believed to be Tony and you know who is responsible for all the weird and aggressive goings on in the areas nearby Anne's home. I would have liked it to be a bit more of a mystery, but everything else about this book was so good that it more than made up for it. For example, we finally get to know what the vedict is between Lady Anne and Tony and I'd say that's worth missing out on a bit of mystery since the entire series has been leading up to an answer between them.

I loved each book and this was the perfect end to the series. I wish there were more books in the series though so that I could keep on reading but it was such a perfect ending that I'm okay with it! Luckily she has started a new series earlier this year and so I can keep reading with The Gentlewoman's Guide to Murder.

I would recommend this book/series to any fans of historical fiction, historical mystery, or historical romance.
Profile Image for carolintallahassee .
227 reviews38 followers
May 4, 2019
Good Read! Great Mystery! Good Series!

I love Tony, Marquis of Darkefell; Lady Anne is way too feminist for me, especially during this time period! I have read all three books in this series; I loved the first story, very gothic, howling werewolves? Murders of young ladies, with their throats, slit. Lady Anne meets the Marquis in the first book; he is very handsome, he falls in love with her, she leaves without telling him, then on to Book II. He is determined to have her; he follows her to Cornwall. There, she becomes involved with Pirates, soldiers, murder, mayhem. As I said, I like the premise, the mysteries, the characters; what I don't like is Lady Anne's attitude! She is opinionated, feminists in her views, she refuses this mans love, because she can do everything herself, thank you very much! Yet, she has this complex about her looks; she is too plain, her nose is too big, for someone with her feminist views, she certainly has a low opinion of herself! I don't like feminist perspectives; they are opposites to mine, however, I have high self-esteem, which she definitely lacks!
She does not want to change one thing about her personality, but, she expects an Alpha Male, to become a weaker man to please her! I have a strong character; if my husband gave into me as she expects Tony too, I would lose all respect for him.
I do like the stories; I like that Tony does not completely cave into her demands.
I recommend! Thank you.
carolintallahassee.com #Netgalley # Victoria Hamilton
152 reviews
May 20, 2020
Okay, the beginning confused me a little bit, all of a sudden Julius is supposed to have been there the whole time and Darkefell knew the whole time? Idk. I had to think back lots to the first book to check if it fits with what was said in it, but I was too lazy to actually reread in the book, so from what I remember it fits. Execution of this stolyline: okay.
If I had known that all the loose ends of the first book get tidied up in this one maybe I wouldn't have been so disappointed with the first one.

I enjoyed that all the small mysteries got solved earlier, so the story moved faster than in the first two.

Re Darkefell and Anne's relationship, I'm still not quite sure how I feel about them, I mean, yes I'm glad that they finally came to an agreement and they really do suit, but the spark to make me really love them is missing. And I am glad that they took time to work their problems out, more each on their own than together but still, because I was dreading that their conflict gets revolved with one magical conversation, as I've seen it done before in other books.

Of all the characters in the books, Osei is probably my favourite.

Plus points again for the inclusion of minorities and mental illness. I think those are these books strongest points.
Profile Image for Lorraine.
1,161 reviews87 followers
May 24, 2023
Georgian England. Harecross Hall, Kent, SW England. Victoria Hamilton’s Curse of the Gypsy (Lady
Anne Addison Mysteries, #3) finds Lady Anne back home at Harecross Hall in Kent, but the actual beginning of this story is in Yorkshire at Darkefell Castle where the Marquess of Darkefell is wrestling his secretary, Mr. Osei Boatin, attempting in vain to rid his mind of Lady Anne. The match is a draw. The Marquess returns to the castle when Mr. Boatin spies the estate steward approaching with “a fist full of letters.” Osei glances at the letter addressed to him, reads it, and begins to run to ‘warn’ his lord. The letters are from Lady Anne written to the Marquess, the dowager marchioness, Lady Sophia Darkefell, and Mr. Boatin (a truly fascinating character). Lady Anne demands to know why she has seen the Marquess on her familiy’s estate in Kent. Thus begins an intriguing story of the gypsy encampment at Harecross Hall, misidentification of the Marquess (Who did Lady Anne see?), and the “dead, but not dead” man. This is a quick informative (Why the gypsy mother uses the gypsy ‘curse’, slavery, and agricultural practices in Kent, England) read as the main characters grow with mutual understanding of one another. 4 stars.
Profile Image for Allyson.
1,063 reviews
June 2, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in return for a review based on my honest opinion.

This is the third book in this series, and it was a wonderful wrap of the this trilogy, Lady Anne and The Marquess of Darkfell end up embroiled in another mystery and a blast from the past out Anne in danger once again. As they came closer to the moment we waited for, it was an enjoyable ride. Reading these books really lets you see what life as a headstrong spinster must have been like and her seeing her struggles at being herself and still being a lady, at the balance between giving up so much to be married, how women were thought of as a lesser class of people. In an age where women were just wives and mothers, we see that they didn’t all want to be just that and Darkfell was a man who wasn’t even interested in having a wife, but it turns out al” he needed was a strong sure woman like Anne.

Lovely series, great story and I really enjoyed the historical facts worked in to the book.
Profile Image for Linda.
303 reviews2 followers
August 9, 2019
Lady Anne Addison is back home in Kent when she thinks she see's Marquess of Darkefell in the gypsy camp near her home. Upset that he might have followed her there and not given her space to figure things out she sends angry letters to him and his family. When Darkefell receives the letter he realizes that he must head to Kent to figure out what is going on. Anne is busy trying to figure out why people are getting sick and who is causing mayhem in the village. It doesn't help that the gypsy mother is going around cursing everyone. Tempers are flaring and Anne needs to figure out what is happen. A historical fiction mystery and final we will find out what's Anne's decision regarding the marriage proposal.

I enjoyed reading this book. The build up was good and this book was my favorite in the series. If you are looking for Romance and mystery then pick this one up. I would recommend you read the entire series because it is helpful to know what happened in the other books.
Profile Image for Paraphrodite.
2,672 reviews51 followers
October 10, 2020
3 stars.

This one is definitely more of a romance than a mystery. The mystery took very much a secondary role to Anne's vacillations on Tony's marriage proposals. I did find her dithering a bit tiresome, especially from my point of view, she'd already made her decision about half way through the book and contrary to her decisive personality.

I thought the book dragged on a bit too long after the capture of the villain and things could have been tied up a lot earlier.

This is the last book with an audio version and overall, the narrator did a reasonable job. I did find Tony's tones a bit too flowery and it'll be interesting to see if I'll hear the same voices when I read the next instalment.
Profile Image for Dallass.
2,284 reviews
October 15, 2019
Story comes full circle

We end up back where we started as the threads to this tale are woven into their (almost) final place.

Lady Anne and Darkefell are still trying to sort out their relationship, but matters of family, and murder, keep getting in their way.

Old mysteries are resolved, and new alliances forged (Lady Darkefell even cracks a smile!) as our protagonists roam from Kent to Yorkshire.

Only complaint, really, is that Irusan isn’t front and centre like the previous books.

3.5 stars ⭐️
1 review
Read
October 22, 2021
so many secrets can be discovered through reading and navigating in stories about people we know little about them. Actually, I enjoy having a close observation on Gypsy race, the way they think and behave, the traditions they follow, and the romance they believe in. In eastern world, just like the western, we have gypsy people. They are distinguished by their hard hearts, strength, fearlessness, and romance to the bone. In fact, the novel gave me a sunny light not only to read such writings, but to write and analyze the way they live.
Profile Image for Cherry London.
Author 1 book83 followers
June 17, 2019
Lady Anne is in a confounded mess, not knowing what is causing the mysterious sickness in her home that almost killed Robbie and a couple others. To top it off someone took a shot at her, and Darkefell is in the vicinity. Her distasteful letter to his home has brought not just him but his mother along. Darkefell went in search of his brother his identical twin and found a killer as well, I am still not a fan of Anne’s character but all in all it was an interesting and intriguing read.
Profile Image for Melani D.
188 reviews15 followers
October 11, 2020
This book wasn’t as enjoyable as the first. It’s listed as a mystery, but really, the mystery is resolved in the first half of the book. It’s more of a romance with a tad of mystery tossed in. The constant back and forth between the main characters got to be annoying because it was so predictable. I know the author did it to emphasize their differences and lead up to the ultimate resolution, but there was maybe one too many of the same issues. Still I enjoyed the book and will probably read the next in the series in hopes it’s as entertaining as the first in the series was
126 reviews
July 26, 2024
Couldn’t stop reading

I went through this book very fast…just couldn’t put it down. While some characters and parts of the plot have been explained and the threads woven together, I couldn’t help waiting for a shoe to fall with a new mystery. There is a hint of the future for several of the characters so i will be on to book 4. Please join me in this series. Would love to know what everyone thinks…
Profile Image for Colette .
1,071 reviews98 followers
June 30, 2019
As much as I love this series, I thought Lady Anne was a bit, well too everything in this book. I can see why she wanted to remain true to herself, but she gave poor Darkefell sick a hard time that I felt sorry for him.

I did really enjoy this mystery & liked how everything wrapped the series in the end.
1,090 reviews
July 30, 2019
Ok

I read the three books because I was frustrated with the end of the previous books. Anne does articulate the issue of a lack freedom in marriage for women yet does he ever hear her? I found myself getting my teeth at the end. I cannot abide violent bullies and his tone seemed both. So 3 stars ad it kept me reading but I felt more anger than joy at the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews

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